How bad a decision can one make - XJR edition

[DirtyDaily]

Perhaps a "click bait" title but the chances of ruinous disaster is always there on a supercharged jaguar, especially on one that cost a mere £2,700. I thought I'll make a thread for this as this is a bit of an attainable dream car for myself. I have always had an affinity for Jaguars and a supercharged XJ is just about peak daily motoring in my mind. This one is a weathered example but my experience of the X350s is quite untroubled. I also thought that the wealth of knowledge that Autoshite has to offer may come in handy.

Bit of a synopsis on the condition is as follows:

Recently serviced

New MOT

Perishables look to be in good shape

Suspension has been lowered via the SDD software (anyone with this software that can help me up the suspension to stock ride height would be very much appreciated!)

Kind of following on from above the central locking is not working, almost certainly a drivers door module issue and was wondering if anyone knew where I may be able to get this one refurbed? People tend to just get another module and have it programmed to the car using the SDD but I fancy getting it refurbed since it's a very common issue

Drivers window is broken, needs a new regulator

Pulley squeaking when cold, I will have to investigate what this is.

No Aircon which I strongly suspect is air condenser seals which are a fault with every x350 I've owned.

Oil cooler leak which I suspect will just be a rubber seal which shouldn't be an issue.

Bodywork let's it down, alloy corrosion is in abundance and on most panels which is a shame, alloys need refurbing but that's not a big issue.

Interior is tidy as I have found on most X350s

Makes a truly wonderful supercharger whine when you boot it and all of a sudden the cars foibles melt away. Power is immense and unrelenting with a superb soundtrack to boot and a planted road feel. Once I've ironed out some of the issues it should be a good example. Good bones you might say.

Come along for the ride and we will see if a "got ya" comes up!

More pictures will become available once I've given it a good clean.

[grogee]

This site is spoiling us with absolute money pits. Rejoice! Castle Bromwich is flying its flags. 

I'm very jealous. 

[J-T]

‘Kinell, check out mine and @Crispian_J_Hotson’s threads on supercharged big cats. Best of bloody British to you. 

[Crispian_J_Hotson]

Yes m9! Welcome aboard the torture train! Show us yer injin then? 

Is it the pulley squeaking or a belt slipping? Belt noise may well be the SC belt at that year of model.  Smooth Idler pulley upgrades to a ribbed type pulley and you'll need a double sided belt. it's a common issue and mod. Literally just got it for mine. You can get a refurbed pulley from Autoreserve, and belt is 8DPK1355.

[DirtyDaily]

Yes m9! Welcome aboard the torture train! Show us yer injin then? 
Is it the pulley squeaking or a belt slipping? Belt noise may well be the SC belt at that year of model.  Smooth Idler pulley upgrades to a ribbed type pulley and you'll need a double sided belt. it's a common issue and mod. Literally just got it for mine. You can get a refurbed pulley from Autoreserve, and belt is 8DPK1355.

Could well be slipping though it doesn't sound like a continuous slip. I'll have a look in to that and see. Try the old wet the belt and see if the noise goes away.

[GeordieInExile]

Bad decision? Where? Because all I see is the greatest decision a man could ever hope to make for himself. 

[grogee]

Check the service history for any receipts from a 'Coventry Jag Specialist'.

If you find any, burn the car to the ground.

[horriblemercedes]

I'll be following. I like Jaguars in general and XJRs in particular.

 

I might make a thread for my XJ6 but probably not as it's about to go away for the winter so there won't be much to put in the thread for a while!

[DirtyDaily]

Check the service history for any receipts from a 'Coventry Jag Specialist'.
If you find any, burn the car to the ground.

Thankfully there's no service records! Is that a win?

[motorpunk]

Oh yes. Loving this. 

Show me it's innards. 

[straightSix]

38 minutes ago, grogee said:

Check the service history for any receipts from a 'Coventry Jag Specialist'.

If you find any, burn the car to the ground.

Out of curiosity, which specialist are we talking? I've had great experience with one but the other one has been absolutely taking the piss 

[GregZX]

Wonderful. My friendly mechanic has the X300 4.0 supercharged. I've been in it a few times and didn't want to get out.

[DirtyDaily]

Some rubbish pictures of the interior. I think a deep clean will make it come up like new.

[uk_senator]

Bloody cheap that.. I`ve been thinking about getting one to replace my incredibly rusy, not-ULEZ compliant (& as of 2 weeks ago, vandalised) X308R, so I`ll be watching with interest..

[stuboy]

3 hours ago, DirtyDaily said:

Some rubbish pictures of the interior. I think a deep clean will make it come up like new.

bloody lush

[stuboy]

23 hours ago, DirtyDaily said:

blah blah this broken.... blah blah leaks....  blah blah... just minor issues when look this nice

[DirtyDaily]

Update. Driven say 100 miles in this now. Few times to and back from work and generally around. Driving very well and nothing has cropped up yet other than the temperature not getting to the centre for quite a while. My commute to work is 25mins approx and it was just shy of the centre so I think the thermostat is letting coolant past. Ordered a new one for £17 and looking online it is a VERY easy job. Intake off and there it is.
I'll get that done as I don't want it over fueling everyday to work and back. Makes a good excuse to do a quick coolant flush too.

[DirtyDaily]

Bigger update:
So been spannering on it with kind of no success but found bits to do!
1st, went to replace the thermostat but the one supplied was incorrect so the old one has had to go back in. Can confirm the thermostat is at fault as it's stuck open. (See pic)
2nd, checked air filter. Filth. (See pic)
3rd, cabin filter. Filth. (Soz no pic but it's really bad)
4th, oil cooler is really cruded up so I've hit it with brake clean but it's gonna need a bit more of a deep clean or soaking.
5th, now I had an issue with the drivers window wiper not really wiping so I just got new wipers as it was pretty old. I put the new one on and realised it's just not touching the screen... odd. Realised that the point where the arm attached to the linkage has way too much play and is causing the arm to not press against the screen. I stripped it down to try and bodge it but no joy. Ive ordered a new (used) part from auto reserve to replace the whole mechanism for £40 but it'll be a bit of a job to do it. Brake servo has to come off and scuttle has to come off again. Annoying but whatever.

The car just seems like it's been neglected in general hence the old filters and not addressing leaks for a long time etc. Thankfully their solid cars but does make you wonder who buys an XJR and doesn't do any maintenance. I'm going to visit a bloke in Chester next Friday too who has the SDD software to raise the suspension up to standard ride height as the past owner just had it too low. We are getting there.

[DirtyDaily]

Should add I have ordered the following:
New air filter
New cabin filter
Wiper linkage
New window regulator

Edited as I have now purchased the window regulator

[bezzabsa]

after seeing those pics of the interior, has anyone else noticed that Yanks variants usually have well mullard leather in about 4 years

[DirtyDaily]

after seeing those pics of the interior, has anyone else noticed that Yanks variants usually have well mullard leather in about 4 years

All the jags I've had the interiors have been great. I think the heat in parts of America have an effect. They definitely have an effect on the air struts as they fail constantly in America but in the UK they're pretty strong.

[yes oui si]

On 9/16/2023 at 7:22 PM, DirtyDaily said:

 I'm going to visit a bloke in Chester next Friday too who has the SDD software to lower the suspension another couple of inches as the past owner just had it too high. 
 

I support this endeavour. 

 

[DirtyDaily]

Update:
Thermostat has finally been sourced. Took 4 attempts but I got the correct one in the end.
Now installed
New air filter for the engine and cabin installed.
Sourced a good used wiper mechanism and by god that was a pain to fit. Brake booster had to come out and it was budging until I really lost my temper with it and started stamping on the brake pedal. It came out then. Had a bit of a job rebleeding the brakes but got there in the end. Wiper mechanism is super tight inside and I reinstalled the motor in the wrong position so the wipers were not at the bottom. Readjusted it today and all is well!
Today has been a very satisfying day on the Jag. I had 2 days of issue after issue and then today has been solutions.

I've got the drivers window regulator that I might be able to fit tomorrow weather permitting. Rearrange with the bloke to raise the suspension as it was out of action. I'm going to try and recode the drivers door module as I found some security codes saying doesn't match car or something I can't remember so I have a feeling someone may have put a new one in without reprogramming it. I really need to get around to ordering all the parts for the supercharger belt as it does squeak a lot until it's up to temperature. Once it's up to temp though and you are cruising along and have 400+ hp at your disposal it's really intoxicating. I'll be very proud when this is done and I'll know I almost certainly saved this from the breakers.https://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/6518108f3193c/PXL_20230930_115721928.TS.mp4

[DirtyDaily]

Been driving this round now.
Few things to note:
Drives really well now and much nicer now some of the issues have been addressed
Mpg isn't awful, 20+ tootling to work and back, 35 on a run. Wows.
Suspension has a leak I suspect, it had a shitty repair section which I have replaced and I think that's helped.

Minor panic, turns out I'm an idiot.
So after all the work I was driving about and heard a horrible scraping/knocking/rubbing noise. Didn't make the noise under acceleration but did on deceleration. Thought the leaky diff might have kicked the bucket and was a little sad. Went underneath it today to check it out and thought I'll spin the wheels while they're in the air and noticed the nearside rear wheel bolts had come undone... No bolts were tight and the wheel was on its way off. Learnt my lesson. Wheel nuts are now FT.
Just need to replace the squeaky supercharger belt and the Aircon lines for driving pleasure. The other bits are getting sorted as and when I get round to them. I also replaced a door speaker as it was rattling.

[tooSavvy]

I had a 'thrubb, thrubb', under braking.... Soon after fitting my GM steelies 🙉🙊🙈

.... seems the paint/zinc undercoat in the cone holes of the wheel had loosened (under stress/heat cycling) and one nut was missing and another 'finger tight' 😮

FffTight (+ buying a spare cone nut) has fixed it....

🚙💨

[DirtyDaily]

I had a 'thrubb, thrubb', under braking.... Soon after fitting my GM steelies
.... seems the paint/zinc undercoat in the cone holes of the wheel had loosened (under stress/heat cycling) and one nut was missing and another 'finger tight'
FffTight (+ buying a spare cone nut) has fixed it....

It's the second time it's happened to me now though the last time it happened was 10 years a go. Frightening thought of the potential consequences.

[Bear]

Mmm, supercharged.

[DirtyDaily]

XJR update.
Had a few issues. Shock.

Air suspension was throwing a fault increasing regularly. The front end wasn't getting up to a satisfactory height and in the end it became apparent the near side front strut was dead. I bought a second hand unit from auto reserve jaguar (I mention them by name as I rate them for new and used jag stuff) and set about replacing. Go to remove the strut and strip the thread on the top wishbone. Boo. New wishbone in the post and go about fitting it all and air suspension woes cured. Did this a while a go but forgot to update the thread. No pictures soz.

Belt squeal on the supercharger was getting pretty bad and wasn't going away really. A bit of swearing and a delay due to incorrect belt ordering and that is now sorted! Been driving around in the range and forget how different these things are.

More recently and more pressingly on my way to work I got a "gearbox fault" flash up on my dash and it locked me in to third gear. At this moment I thought it needed the solenoids in the gearbox which if done by my local automatic transmission garage would be a £900 fix. If I did it I suspect it would be circa £500. Not ideal. I have however been getting other intermittent issues. Air suspension fault flashing up intermittently, DSC fault flashing up on first startup and then going away. With this in mind I thought that all these faults seem a little bit of a coincidence so checked the battery voltage and it was only kicking out 12.1v, it was also tiny. Replaced with a more suitable battery and said issues have not yet returned so I am hopeful this has cured the above issues. Phew.

It desperately needs a clean but the bodywork is so bad I don't want to. It also has a flickering headlight (xenon's) and a weird issue with the speakers. Music plays fine but then the subwoofer makes a horrible distorted sound after say 10 mins of playing music. Still need to sort the locking and unlocking on the fob. I'll get through them eventually but I've been so incredibly busy of late it is slow going. List of things I want to sort in order I suspect they will get sorted.
Central locking (needs a security sounder module I believe)
Subwoofer (dunno if it just need a new subwoofer but I know it has a weird fibre optic cable thing that may be broken somewhere in which case throw the car away)
Wheel refurb
Brake caliper refurb (I think this will make a huge difference in appearance
General bodywork tidying, needs paint it's flaking off everywhere, needs a new front bumper, polish headlights etc. this will probably end up being a full respray in all likelihood.

Makes simply incredible supercharger noises and I have a sample for you to enjoy for sticking with the post this long.

[DirtyDaily]

I forgot to add. You will spy a smaller supercharger pulley. +2.5psi.
Also upgraded the idler pulley and belt to the later design to help avoid the slip. Cool stuff.

[N Dentressangle]

Top news - doesn't seem like much other than the usual old car stuff.

The new battery fix is especially satisfying - hope it cures the faults. Bet it will do 🤞